Nevada hides a treasure trove of secret drinking spots where adventure awaits behind unmarked doors. From password-protected speakeasies to bars disguised as everyday businesses, these hidden gems offer unique cocktail experiences away from the typical tourist crowds. Grab your sense of adventure as we explore eight of Nevada’s most secretive and exciting bars worth discovering on your next visit.
1. The Laundry Room: Text for Entry
Nestled inside Commonwealth bar in Downtown Las Vegas, this intimate 20-seat speakeasy transports visitors to the Prohibition era. Getting in requires sending a text message to a secret number and patiently waiting for your reservation to be confirmed.
Once inside, mixologists craft personalized cocktails based on your preferences while strict house rules (including no cell phones) preserve the exclusive atmosphere. The dim lighting, vintage furnishings, and jazz music create the perfect backdrop for sipping handcrafted libations.
2. Ghost Donkey: Mezcal Paradise
Who would expect a vibrant mezcal bar hiding behind an unmarked door in the Cosmopolitan’s Block 16 Urban Food Hall? This crimson-hued hideaway dazzles with string lights dangling from the ceiling, creating a warm, festive atmosphere that feels worlds away from the casino floor.
Specializing in rare mezcals and tequilas, their mixologists craft creative concoctions featuring unexpected ingredients like truffle-infused honey. Don’t miss their signature Mushroom Margarita or the spicy mango-infused mezcal drinks that have earned them a cult following.
3. Here Kitty Kitty Vice Den: Hidden Asian Speakeasy
Curiosity leads to cocktails at this clandestine bar tucked behind Ms. Meow’s noodle shop at Resorts World. Look for the inconspicuous entrance – a bookshelf that swings open to reveal a sultry lounge adorned with Asian-inspired décor and rich red accents.
The bar specializes in creative cocktails with Eastern influences, using ingredients like lychee, yuzu, and five-spice syrup. The intimate space features plush seating areas perfect for quiet conversations away from the casino’s constant buzz. Their signature Lucky Cat cocktail, served in a maneki-neko vessel, has become an Instagram favorite.
4. 1923 Prohibition Bar: Roaring Twenties Revival
Step back in time at this hidden gem within Mandalay Bay, where the spirit of the 1920s comes alive through vintage décor, classic cocktails, and live entertainment. Flapper-dressed hostesses and bartenders in suspenders and bow ties complete the immersive experience.
The bar excels at pre-Prohibition cocktails like the Bee’s Knees and Mary Pickford, each served with historical anecdotes. Live jazz performances and occasional burlesque shows make this more than just a drinking spot – it’s a full evening’s entertainment.
Fun fact: The bar’s antique cash register once belonged to a speakeasy that operated during the actual Prohibition era.
5. Más Por Favor: Taqueria’s Secret Tunnel
Finding this Chinatown gem requires first entering an unassuming taqueria, then discovering the tunnel that leads to a vibrant, skull-adorned speakeasy in the back. The contrast between the casual front restaurant and the moody, stylish bar creates an unforgettable experience.
Bartenders shake up Latin-inspired cocktails featuring house-infused tequilas and rare mezcals. Try their signature Smoking Jacket – a smoky mezcal masterpiece with cinnamon and chocolate bitters. The bar’s Day of the Dead aesthetic, with colorful sugar skull art and glowing candles, creates a festive yet intimate atmosphere perfect for date nights.
6. The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails: Haircuts and Highballs
During daylight hours, this Cosmopolitan venue operates as a legitimate barbershop offering premium grooming services. Come evening, observant visitors might notice the unassuming janitor’s door that conceals a lavish whiskey lounge with live music.
The hidden bar showcases over 150 whiskeys from around the world alongside classic cocktails served in vintage glassware. Leather couches, dark wood paneling, and a small stage hosting rock bands create an atmosphere that feels both exclusive and welcoming.
The clever dual-business concept pays homage to Prohibition-era barbershops that often served as fronts for illegal drinking establishments.
7. Underworld Distillery: Reno’s Mystical Spirit Den
Unlike typical distilleries, this Reno establishment operates with an air of mystery, hosting popup events like “Divination & Libations” that blend craft spirits with the supernatural. The industrial-chic space transforms during these special nights into an otherworldly drinking den.
Visitors sample handcrafted spirits produced on-site while tarot readers and crystal healers provide mystical experiences between sips. Their signature absinthe, made using traditional methods, has developed a cult following among locals who track the distillery’s social media for announcements of their next clandestine gathering.
The owners deliberately maintain an under-the-radar presence, believing that the best experiences are discovered through word of mouth.
8. Noel’s Coffee & Apothecary: Lake Tahoe’s Jekyll and Hyde
By day, this Lake Tahoe establishment serves artisanal coffee and pastries to unsuspecting tourists. As evening falls, the space undergoes a remarkable transformation, with bookshelves sliding aside to reveal a cozy speakeasy featuring craft cocktails and live acoustic music.
The nighttime menu specializes in medicinal-inspired drinks using house-made bitters, tinctures, and locally foraged ingredients from the Sierra Nevada mountains. Vintage medical equipment decorates the walls, while bartenders in apothecary attire mix drinks with theatrical flair.
The bar’s signature Pinecone Old Fashioned features bourbon infused with local pine needles – a perfect embodiment of Lake Tahoe in a glass.
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